Sitting as it does between the Caspian and Black Seas, Georgia is part of a bottleneck that funnels migrating birds from breeding ground in Central and Eastern Europe through to wintering grounds in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

Amongst the kettles of Steppe Buzzards and Black Kites, there will lots of harriers to enjoy including good numbers of Western Marsh, Montagu’s and Pallid and a spectacular mix of eagles including Booted, Short-toed, Steppe, Lesser Spotted and Greater Spotted Eagle. Red-footed Falcons and Lesser Kestrels are also among the possibilities. Chances are goodfor seeing such stunning species as Egyptian Vulture, Crested Honey Buzzard and Eastern Imperial Eagle among others.

It’s not all about the raptors though, European Bee--eaters, Rollers and Black Storks pass by. In the parks of Batumi you can often find large flocks of migrating birds. One day it might be a group of Red-breasted Flycatchers the next day it might be all about Whinchats and Red-backed shrikes. Diversity among these migrants is high and we will be looking for such avian treasures as Booted Warbler, Barred Warbler, River Warbler and more. There will also be the possibilities to uncover secretive species like Nightjars, Eurasian Scops Owl, Little Bittern and Corncrake.

The Chorokhi Delta holds shorebirds and marshland birds, with a good chance of a Gray-headed Swamphen, Little Crake, Squacco Heron, Citrine Wagtail, Little Stint, Broad-billed Sandpiper, and so much more. Seawatching under the right conditions can be productive to for such species as Slender-Billed Gull, Armenian Gull, Yelkouan Shearwater and Eurasian Stone-curlew among the more expected Little and Caspian Gulls, Great-crested Grebes and a variety of ducks.
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    Luke Tiller
    Birding Tour Leader
    Originally from London, England, Luke transplanted to the United States in 2003. As a professional hawkwatcher he has traveled the world to witness raptor migration and has experience counting raptors in North America, Europe and the Middle East. He has written about birds and birding for publications here in the US and in Europe including Audubon Magazine, Birdwatch Magazine and ABA’s Birding Magazine. Since 2012 Luke has sat on the Hawk Migration Association of North America Board and chairs their Tours Committee. Luke is currently based in Altadena California and you will find him at most birding festivals working at the ZEISS Sports Optics booth.